2018 KGD Annual Report - Keep Growing Detroitdetroitagriculture.net/wp...Report_Final_Small.pdf · 1 | 2018 ANNUAL REPORT - KEEP GROWING DETROIT ... f ami l i es to p u r ch ase v

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

1 | 2018 ANNUAL REPORT - KEEP GROWING DETROIT

Keep Growing Detroit is 5 years old!

The last five years have flown by as we’ve worked to establishKeep Growing Detroit, but we’re so proud of how far we’vecome and even more excited about where we’re going. In thisannual report, you’ll see our many accomplishments this year,which wouldn’t be possible without the passionate staff, board,and community leaders that have dedicated themselves toachieving KGD’s mission and serving Detroit growers andeaters. 2018 has been a year full of transition coming home toour new farm and office in the Eastern Market District andalthough change is hard, we are grateful in retrospect for theroom that change provides for growth, reflection, and newopportunities. Although KGD is a young organization, our mission, vision, andperspective are rooted in the growth and change of the GardenResource Program over the last 15 years. As we celebrate thenetwork of gardens passing another major milestone with over1,600 gardens joining the GRP this year, we are inspired andmotivated to continue to grow Keep Growing Detroit as anorganization that respond to the needs, ideas and leadership ofour tremendous community of gardeners, farmers and foodadvocates.

Keep Growing Detroit (KGD) iscultivating a food sovereigncity where the majority offruits and vegetablesconsumed by Detroiters aregrown by residents within thecity’s limits.

In 2018, KGD surpassed a major milestone, with 1,603 gardensjoining the Garden Resource Program (GRP). These gardens, whichincluded 558 new members, grew approximately 385,750 poundsof healthy food for Detroit families. The addition of children'sactivities and healthy food and drink tastings at our citywide eventsand plant distributions this year were one small way that KGDworked to make the spaces we hold engaging for the whole family. Over 25% of the gardens in the GRP in 2018 were tended byfamilies with children ages birth to 5, providing opportunities todevelop healthy habits during key developmental years. Oursuccess at reaching new growers, especially those with youngchildren, would not have been possible without the growingpartnerships and dynamic collaborations with organizations andinstitutions serving Detroit’s families. Some of KGD’s uniqueoutreach strategies this season included partnering with the DetroitHealth Department’s WIC Clinics to host pop-up farmers’ markets toincrease redemption of Project Fresh coupons and encouragefamilies to purchase vegetable transplants using their SNAPbenefits, which also made them eligible for a complimentary GRPmembership. We also connected with families through our MorePlease! series, which focused on equipping parents with childrenunder 3 with the skills to introduce fruits and vegetables at thiscritical age through cooking, gardening and play. Concepts for these programs grew out of our work supporting over50 early childcare centers, helping them to integrate garden based-learning as a tool to support the nutritional, physical andeducational development of the children they serve. With providerslooking to engage their parents in meaningful ways and connectthem with community resources for health and wellness, like thoseoffered through KGD and our partners, we are inspired tocontinuously work to make our programs relevant and accessible tofamilies.

SERVING FAMILIES


Across the city this year the 24,362 residents growinggardens with support from the GRP demonstrated that thereis indeed a place to grow food in every neighborhood inDetroit! Ranging in size and scope, residents turnedbackyards, side lots, and a wide array of public and privatespaces across the city into a checkerboard of 913 family, 143school, 108 market, 426 community, and 13 Partner in FoodSovereignity gardens that grew as a part of the GRP networkthis year.

Long at home in the Eastern Market District are theGrown in Detroit growers that began sellingcooperatively back in 2006 and now are a staple inShed 2. Since the first year, when 6 growers earned$800, GID has grown to include 55 gardens earning$50,248 at 53 market days. A unique model ofcooperation, GID allows growers to enter themarket place with a range of experience. In 2018, KGD also facilitated 34 gardens and farmsselling a portion of what they grew to over 40Detroit-based restaurants and food business,earning $20,355 in additional revenue this season.Absent from the mix for most of this season wasthe usual contribution from KGD’s Farm, whichtypically bolsters the variety of early and lateproduce that is available to consumers. Despite thisset-back, the Grown in Detroit growers exceededthis year’s market projections. Many newer growers start by earning supplementalincome, which helps them pay for things likeproperty taxes, tools and garden supplies, or backto school supplies for their kids or grandkids. Fromthere, GID offers a supportive launching place forgrowers to increase their capacity and successfullyincubate their farm businesses. In fact, at any givenSaturday at Eastern Market this year, there were 5or more farm businesses selling independently thatgrew out of Grown in Detroit. One of the most unique aspects of Grown in Detroitis the ability for so many different growers to sellunder the same banner with uniformity andconsistency from season to season. Each year thereis a new mix of growers that sell together,coordinating efforts to both meet market demandand make room for growers of all size and capacity.Among the growers this year were 22 who wereselling for the very first time and 4 growers whocame back to selling after being away from GID forover 3 years.

EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES


INVESTING IN FAMILY & COMMUNITY ASSETS


The Garden Resource Program continues to be an anchor inDetroit's food ecosystem supporting growers of all skilllevels. The program provides affordable garden resourcesincluding the 85,940 packs of seeds and 292,930 transplantsthat KGD distributed this season. In addition, our 4 RegionalResource Hubs provided growers with access to tools andother key garden resources including 360 yards of compost,88 raised beds and 880 tomato stakes.

Investing in the long-term capacity of Detroit’scommunity gardens and farms so they are able toprovide access to healthy food for our communityfor a long time to come means investing in farmassets that will allow them to grow and thrive. KGDassisted with farm infrastructure at many of Detroit’sestablished gardens this year with projects rangingfrom water collection and irrigation systems andperennial flower borders to hoop houses and beehives. These projects, which are an investment ofanywhere from $500-$10,000 dollars, build thecapacity of growers, especially those that are tryingto turn a profit as a small farm business. In 2018, our infrastructure projects included building6 water catchment systems and 4 perennial flowerborders, which increased curb appeal andenvironmental services such as pollination atparticipating gardens. Our staff also suppliedperennial plant material to support an additional 6groups in establishing perennial flower borders attheir sites. For the increasing number of growerslooking to be competitive in the marketplace, KGDprovided technical assistance related to planning andbuilding hoop house and greenhouse structures,working with over a dozen sites on sourcingmaterials, choosing vendors, troubleshooting issues,choosing crops and coordinating group orders tosave on shipping. We also worked with growers totake advantage of numerous grants available,sharing opportunities and providing support to makeapplications competitive.

KGD also worked with growers this season toelevate their awareness about the importance ofmaking proactive steps to ensure land security in arapidly changing city. Our staff provided technicalassistance to 35 residents, including facilitatingsupport to help them navigate the land acquisitionprocess. We also worked with partners, includingthe Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, toadvocate for city policies that support our vision ofplaces to grow food in every neighborhood,especially with decision makers in the city, such asthe Department of Sustainability and DistrictManagers. Our goal is to make sure that as the citychanges, there is an understanding of the benefitsand services that gardens and farms provide andthe support from decision makers to advocate forthem long-term. The good news is that the majorityof gardens and farms we serve are land secure. In2018, nearly 77% growers own their land and we’reworking diligently on increasing that number everychance we get.

Since its inception in 2004, Keep Growing Detroit’sGarden Resource Program has served 6,220 gardens.The number of gardens the program serves hasexploded over the years, staring with 80 in 2004 to arecord-breaking 1,603 in 2018.

THE LONG VIEW


gardens have been in the GRP for at least 5 years, and have been in the GRP at least 10 years.

The GRP makes gardening an affordable way tofeed Detroit families a wide variety of healthy andlocally produced fruits, vegetables, and culinaryherbs. GRP members estimate that they savenearly a thousand dollars a year on their grocerybills. Preserving the garden summer’s bounty byfreezing or canning contributes to a healthy dietand food savings year-round.

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Through gardening, GRP members improve theirhealth through eating healthier, being more active,and improving their mental well-being. The GRPgives thousands of Detroiters access to fresh, low-cost vegetables, which are amongst the best foodsfor maintaining health. It has been shown time andagain that gardeners and their families eat morefruits and vegetables than non-gardeners. Fruits andvegetables not only provide important nutrients suchas vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but they also reducethe risk of some of the most prevalent diseasesfacing residents, including heart disease, somecancers, and diabetes. GRP members also say thatgardening makes them more active and is greatexercise for the whole body, while also being moreenjoyable than “traditional” exercise. Just like eatingmore fruits and vegetables, exercise is one of thebest ways to reduce risk of disease and extend life.Last but certainly not least, gardening is great forstress reduction and improving mood: GRP memberssay that they can escape from their daily stressorswhen they’re gardening, and that they just feelhappier when they’re in the garden.

HEALTH IMPACT

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2012 2018

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

TOTAL GRP GARDENS BY YEAR &TYPE

FAMILY COMMUNITY MARKET SCHOOL

Because Anything Worth Doing Takes a Long Time

Through our Education Series, social events,workdays, and many other opportunities to connectwith other growers across the city, GRP members arepart of a network of thousands of growers fromevery part of Detroit. GRP members are amazingresources for each other, learning tips and tricks forgardening, sharing recipes, and building friendships.Many GRP members are also involved in foodsystems work beyond the GRP, which buildsrelationships between KGD and many other groupsthat strive to improve the health of Detroit’s foodsystem and its residents.


SOCIAL & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

WORKING OURSELVES OUT OF A JOBWe love what we do at KGD and diligently measurethe impact we have made each year through ourprograms. However, we also measure our success bywhat we don’t do. We are very proud to be a partnerin a strong and resilient network of gardens, farms,and organizations working together to influenceDetroit’s food system and the health and wellness ofits’ residents. Over the years, we’ve been veryintentional about how we contribute to building thecapacity of this network, supporting growers andfarm businesses to become independent andsustainable on their own, yet ensuring they know thevalue they bring when they are connected andcontributing as leaders.

With the help of our research partners at MichiganState University, Keep Growing Detroit hascompleted a longitudinal analysis examining therelationship between participation in the variouscomponents of the Garden Resource Program (GRP)and the likelihood that growers will return to theirgardens and farms the following year. This researchhas provided valuable insight related to our gardendevelopment practices. Our research found thatgrowers who receive a site visit are 104% more likelyto return, 61% more likely to return if they volunteerwith KGD or other gardens, and 43% more likely toreturn if they attend one class. These findingsdemonstrate that each aspect of the GRP plays avaluable role in keeping Detroiters growing. Of course we'd like see residents gardening orfarming forever, but the reality is that growing foodis hard work and it’s not for everyone all the time.While not everyone who joins the GRP stays for thelong run, KGD views even short-term membership inthe GRP as a way to engage residents in the foodsystems as eaters and advocates. Throughgardening, even for just one season, GRP membersdevelop a deeper appreciation and understanding ofwhere food comes from and how it is produced. Thistranslates into a shift in what’s important to themwhen they buy food, placing greater importance onbuying organic, ensuring food producers receive fairwages and have good working conditions, andsupporting local growers. KGD believes that even ifGRP members are no longer gardening, deepeningthese values related to food makes them importantadvocates for ensuring that the Detroit food systembenefits the environment, the local economy, andfairly compensates the farmers that work tirelesslyto ensure we have healthy food.

CREATING ENGAGED EATERS & ADVOCATES

WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT GARDENS RETURN TO THE GRP & THRIVE?

ATTEND ONE CLASS

KGD SITE VISIT

VOLUNTEERONCE

43% MORELIKELY TO

RETURN

61% MORELIKELY TO

RETURN

104% MORELIKELY TO

RETURN

At KGD, our calendar is packed with a mosaic oflearning opportunities. Our educational classes andevents are diverse in format and continuouslyevolving to respond to what the growers we servedemand. This year, over 533 individuals invested3,630 hours in building their skills at one of KGD’s 78educational sessions, which range from hands-oncommunity workdays to workshops in ourEducation Series. In addition to the information shared at oureducational events, KGD also always provide ampletime for growers to get to know and learn from oneanother’s experiences. Most illustrative of this areKGD’s comprehensive programs, like Urban Roots,Sweet on Detroit, and Farm Train, where growerslearn as a part of a cohort. In these series, the skillslearned are magnified, both during the class and asstudents have time to reflect on and build what theylearn alongside fellow students for years to come.These programs have been successful for manyyears in equipping our community with theadvanced skills and passion to promote sustainableagriculture practices in Detroit, while cultivating aclose-knit network of growers that can rely on andlearn from one another.

GROWING CAPACITY & LEADERSHIP


25 new community gardenleaders graduated fromour Urban Roots programin 2018. 450 residents havebeen trained by thispopular program since itwas launched in 2005.

The growth of community leaders has also beeninstrumental in building the capacity of our staff. In2018, we were happy to launch the GRP Pride, anopportunity for experienced GRP members tosupport KGD’s staff during the very busy springseason by assisting with site visits and outreach.Each of the 4 Pride members were trained by ourGarden Development team and paid a stipend fortheir work assisting with tasks this spring. We lookforward to building on the Pride program in futureseasons as we see it as an asset to capitalize on theenthusiasm and willingness of seasoned GRPmembers to pitch in to expand the program andreach new audiences. The growing presence and representation by youthleaders in KGD’s programs is also a promisingreminder of the capable hands that will lead thiswork for years to come. Our youth Apprenticeship,which included 16 youth this summer, was co-led byour staff, 3 returning youth crew leaders, and ayouth fellow. These young people provided strongleadership to their peers, engaging participants infarm training, developing leadership skills, andconnecting with healthy food. Their enthusiasm andcreativity also infiltrated many of other KGD events,including KGD’s Summerfest and Fall Fest, andrepresenting KGD at outreach events, making theorganization more appealing and relevant toDetroit’s younger residents.

16 youth completed ouryouth Apprenticeship thissummer, brining the totalnumber of youthcompleting theApprenticeship up to 37 in3 years.

22 new beekeepersgraduated from our Sweeton Detroit BeeginnerBeekeeping program thisyear. 238 beekeepers havebeen trained since 2007.

CULTIVATING AN APPRECIATION FOR NATURE


Detroit’s gardens and farms have become hubs for neighborsand organizations to host community events each season.KGD’s citywide events, where the primary focus is gatheringand enjoying one another’s company, bring an average of 150people out to each event, introducing growers at events likeSummer Fest and Fall Fest to these thriving and inspiringspaces and their bountiful natural resources and beauty.

As the map shows, growers across the city areinitiating resident-driven transformation with theirgardens and farms, producing an incredible quantityof locally grown produce and creating some of themost ecologically diverse and accessible spaces thatDetroiters have to nurture an appreciation for andconnection to nature, which will impact futuregenerations for years to come. Many growers have begun investing in long-termoutcomes, focusing on production of perennialcrops and sustainable landscapes. In 2018, KGDsupported these efforts with our annual perennialfruit sale, which distributed 274 fruit trees and 1,398perennial fruit crops. KGD also grew 3,553 nativeplants to support partners, including Friends ofRiver Rouge and Sierra Club, who are working withresidents to establish rain gardens, bioswales andother green infrastructure projects.

Supporting these efforts and demonstrating theirown commitment to growing a sustainable city werethe 2,780 Dig in Detroit volunteers who generouslygave over 7,687 hours to Detroit gardens and farmsthis year. At KGD’s farm, new and returning groupswere ready and willing to help get the farm plantedand the two greenhouses erected. We alsoconnected volunteer groups with GRP gardens andfarms at over 20 workdays to help with specialprojects and on-going maintenance efforts. Together with community and volunteers, KGD is aproud steward of the healthy and sustainable futurethat we envision. As we work towards this future, wehope our new KGD Farm will be a central gathering,learning and resource space where all Detroitersfeel welcomed and encouraged to (re)connect to thefood system, nature, and each other.

2017 FINANCIAL REPORT 2017 REVENUE

$696,663

Managem7%Fund

3

Programming

O F G R P M E M B E R S D O N A T E D T O K G D I N 2 0 1 8 12%

22% Mission Related Earned Income

10% Contributions

68% Grants

89% Direct Programming

7% Management

3% Fundraising


Earned 22%

Contributions 10%

ants 8%

2017 EXPENSES $725,732

ABOUT USOUR MISSIONKeep Growing Detroit exists to promote a food sovereign city where the majority of fruits andvegetables consumed by Detroiters are grown by residents within the city’s limits. Our strategicapproach to achieving our mission includes work that fosters relationships to food, grows theknowledge of food and farming, builds leadership skills and capacity within Detroit’s urban agriculturecommunity, and changes the value of food while developing community assets.

STAFFAshley Atkinson, Co-Director Nikolette Barnes, Garden Development Specialist Rick Blanchard, Garden Development Specialist Imani Foster, Grown in Detroit Retail Coordinator Lola Gibson-Berg, Community Education Coordinator Molly Hubbell, Farm Operations Coordinator Akello Karamoko, Farmer Kido Pielack, Grower Education Coordinator Lindsay Pielack, Co-Director Tepfirah Rushdan, Garden Development Specialist Anita Singh, Youth Programs Coordinator Eitan Sussman, Grown in Detroit Wholesale Coordinator

BOARDRenee Bryant Chet Dunbar, Treasurer Naim Edwards, Co-Chair Lauren Maloney, Secretary Elois Moore Sharon Oglesby Marquita Reese Rosebud Schneider, Co-Chair

1445 ADELAIDE ST. DETROIT, MI 48207 | (313) 656-4769 | [email protected]

WE MOVED!In 2018, Keep Growing Detroit made a big move! Our newoffice and the KGD Farm are now located in the EasternMarket District. Our office is at 1445 Adelaide on the secondfloor of the Eastern Market Welcome Center, betweenSheds 2 and 3. Our farm is just minutes away at 1850Erskine, near the entrance to the Dequindre Cut at Wilkinsand Russell. We already feel right at home in the bustlingdistrict and look forward to the great opportunities forgrowth that our new home will offer.

KEEPGROWINGDETROIT.ORG

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